Has anyone ever managed to actually use/spend Avios points?

jpsartre

Aubrey_Thicket wrote: »

Thank you to everybody who commented here. Firstly, I wasn't expecting top flights to Orlando for 32,000 Avios. I was planning on using them as part payment.

That's different from redeeming seats and you don't need reward availability to do this. You just do a cash booking and if the Avios part payment is available on your flight you will be given the option before the payment page.

holidaysforme

We find them really good for short haul in Europe. Have had numerous flights all over Eurooe and in the school holidays.
The key is to book flights as soon as they are released.

Going to the US, we have used Aer Lingus a couple of times
I wish you could book the Aer Lingus flights online, instead of having to ring BA. though.

isplumm

Hi

I have half a million avois points - I normally pay WT+ & upgrade to BC.

You have to be flexible - for example next year we are going to see the Calgary Stampede - I wanted to go into Vancouver out of Calgary - but of course no chance of getting tickets back from Calgary at the end of the Stampede - so by being flexible, I managed to get tickets into Seattle & out of Vancouver. BUT I had to book a year in advance to get those flights.

Mark

PeacefulWaters

A few thoughts, courtesy of reading Flyertalk and headforpoints web sites:

Utilise them for reward flight saver £35 return with hold luggage flights to Europe. Usually London as a starting point although Manchester to Gotenburg or Bremen are other options.

Utilise them for business class fares travelling long haul.

As above, pay for PE and upgrade with Avios to business class.

Open an Iberia account. Register for their surveys and do enough to earn Avios with Iberia. Transfer Avios from BA to Iberia (can't be done without the Iberia account having points or having been open 90 days) and book flights from Madrid to USA or South America with far lower "taxes" than flying out of the UK costs.

While rarely good value, use Avios for things like car hire excess insurance, car hire, hotels.

Use Avios to discount full fares. Usually c0.67p saved per Avios but it's not unusual for this to be doubled.

dickydonkin

Aubrey_Thicket wrote: »

The one thing you have fought me here is to look at booking as far in advance as possible.
Thanks everybody!

Which is correct, but bear in mind, it is not unusual to see redemption seats becoming available close to the departure date as well.

holidaysforme

Thought of this thread when I was looking at some Avios flights this morning using flybe from Cardiff to Dublin for October.

Cash price from Cardiff to Dublin, both Aer Lingus and flyBE could be had for around £120 return with a bit of tweaking of times.

Ryan air has a cracking price of £60 return from Bristol, for the three of us.Yes that £20 each!!!
Avios flights were 27.000 avios for and £135 in taxes.
A bit of a joke really.:eek:

malkie76

Only because you are comparing apples with oranges - try making any modifications to the RyanAir flights and see how you get on.

Furthermore, RFS should be a fraction of the taxes with Avois.

holidaysforme

malkie76 wrote: »

Only because you are comparing apples with oranges - try making any modifications to the RyanAir flights and see how you get on.

Furthermore, RFS should be a fraction of the taxes with Avois.

Well the taxes would be £105 with BA, and £135 with flybe, so hardly a fraction!
Also, I would have to drive or use the train to get to London, so the added cost of that would actually be more than getting to Cardiff or Bristol, both of which are much closer.

holidaysforme

Oh, and you have to pay a fee to cancel reward flights as well, so in this instance, I would much rather book the Ryan pair flights, which we have in fact done!

jpsartre

holidaysforme wrote: »

Ryan air has a cracking price of £60 return from Bristol, for the three of us.Yes that £20 each!!!

Avios bookings cannot compete with the cheapest Ryanair bookings if you just look at price. However, they include checked luggage allowance and are much more flexible than standard Ryanair fares.

It makes no sense to say Avios are a joke based on one example. There are cases where using Avios will cost you money (as in the case you mention), others where they can save you hundreds if not thousands of pounds. They are not good or bad simpliciter.